Hey there fellow aquarium enthusiasts! Today I’m gonna share everything you need to know about keeping those tiny but mighty brine shrimp alive. As someone who’s been breeding these little guys for years, I’ve learned all the tricks through trial and error. Let’s dive right in!
Quick Answer
To keep brine shrimp alive, store them in clean saltwater in a shallow container in your fridge at 35-40°F for up to 3 days. For longer-term storage, set up a dedicated 5-10 gallon tank with proper filtration, lighting, and feeding.
What You’ll Need
For Short-term Storage:
- Shallow container
- Marine salt
- Clean dechlorinated water
- Fine mesh net
- Refrigerator
- Air pump & airstone (optional but recommended)
For Long-term Colony
- 5-10 gallon aquarium
- Sponge filter or HOB filter
- Aquarium heater
- Thermometer
- Marine salt mix
- Light source
- Substrate (fine sand)
- Brine shrimp food
Short-term Storage Method
Look, I know sometimes you buy too many brine shrimp or want them to last a few extra days Here’s what I do
- Rinse the brine shrimp in fresh water using a fine mesh net
- Mix marine salt with dechlorinated water (specific gravity 1.010-1.015)
- Place shrimp in shallow container with salt water
- Add airstone if possible for extra oxygen
- Store in fridge at 35-40°F
- Change 50% water daily
- Use within 2-3 days for best results
Pro tip: Don’t feed them during refrigeration – the cold slows their metabolism and extra food just dirties the water!
Setting Up a Brine Shrimp Colony
Want a constant supply? Here’s how to set up your own brine shrimp colony
Tank Setup
- Fill 5-10 gallon tank with dechlorinated water
- Add marine salt to reach 1.010-1.015 specific gravity
- Install sponge filter or HOB filter
- Add thin layer of fine sand substrate
- Set heater to 75-82°F
- Install light on timer for 12-14 hours daily
Maintenance Schedule
- Feed small amounts 2-3 times weekly
- Change 10-15% water twice weekly
- Clean substrate monthly
- Monitor temperature and salinity
Common Problems & Solutions
Sometimes things go wrong – here’s what to watch for:
High Death Rate:
- Check oxygen levels
- Ensure proper salinity
- Remove uneaten food
- Change water more frequently
Poor Growth:
- Increase feeding frequency
- Check temperature
- Improve lighting
- Add algae supplement
Cloudy Water:
- Reduce feeding
- Increase water changes
- Clean filter
- Check for dead shrimp
Feeding Your Fish
When it’s time to feed your fish these nutritious treats:
- Harvest using flashlight to concentrate shrimp
- Rinse in fresh tank water
- Feed small amounts – what fish can eat in 2-3 minutes
- Remove uneaten shrimp after 5 minutes
Remember: Only feed live brine shrimp 2-3 times weekly as a supplement to regular food.
Wrapping Up
There ya have it – everything I’ve learned about keeping these little critters alive! Whether you’re storing them short-term or starting your own colony, the keys are:
- Clean water
- Proper salinity
- Good oxygen levels
- Appropriate temperature
- Regular maintenance
Got any questions about keeping your brine shrimp alive? Drop them in the comments below! I’m always happy to help fellow fish keepers succeed.
Happy fish keeping!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this guide in more detail?
What Are Brine Shrimp?
Brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) are tiny crustaceans that seem to defy all odds of survival. Residents of saltwater lakes, these hardy organisms can tolerate higher levels of salinity and more dramatic temperature fluctuations than most other creatures on Earth. Their resilience to environmental extremes has allowed brine shrimp to exist, virtually unchanged, for over 100 million years.
Among aquarium enthusiasts, brine shrimp are valued as a highly nutritious food source that meets the needs of fish better than commercially manufactured flakes. While you can buy them in pet stores, you can also raise them yourself to ensure a constantly fresh food supply.
Fill Your Container
You can use two small aquariums (10 or 20 gallons) for grow-out containers, but inexpensive 5-gallon buckets often work better because their handles allow easy movement.
Fill one bucket with fresh, dechlorinated water that has a specific gravity (salt content) of 1.018. Reserve the other bucket for maintenance (water changes), which must be performed once a week.
How To Start a Brine Shrimp Culture Indoors- raising to adults
FAQ
How do you maintain brine shrimp?
Each week draw off and discard about ¼ of the culture water, then replace it with new saltwater. Brine shrimp tolerate crowding but may require additional containers as they grow. We recommend premixing and stocking additional water for later use. Your brine shrimp habitat should be cleaned of any dead shrimp weekly.
What kills brine shrimp?
The AVMA Guidelines recommend using 1% to 5% ethanol as the first step in a 2-step euthanasia process and suggest that concentrations above 70% should be used only as a second-step solution. Ethanol at a concentration of 10% has been used as an anesthetic in giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon).
How long can brine shrimp live in a freshwater aquarium?
Since they are saltwater creatures, they can only survive in freshwater for a few hours. If you hatched too many baby brine shrimp, refrigerate the liquid and use them within the next two or three days. If you still have too much, consider freezing them in ice cube trays for longer term storage.
How long do brine shrimp live?
Rinse brine shrimp in tank water before feeding to your fish to remove bacteria. Under ideal conditions, adult brine shrimp may survive in refrigerated storage for up to 2 weeks. But expect mortality rates to rise the longer you keep them this way. For a constant supply of live brine shrimp, consider housing your own colony.
How do you keep brine shrimp alive?
If you want to keep them alive for a few extra days before feeding them to your fish, then a flat container stored in a refrigerator is your best bet. For longer periods, brine shrimp need to be kept in their own designated tank with a plentiful supply of oxygen and algae to feed on.
Is it beneficial to keep brine shrimps for fish?
Brine shrimps are an excellent source of food for fish. They provide a live food experience and are rich in protein, lipids, and carbohydrates. Keeping brine shrimps is beneficial because they are not only good for your fish, but it’s also enjoyable to watch them grow and swim.
Are Brine Shrimp dead?
This has led to brine shrimp being a staple food for aquarists who want to make sure their fish are getting proper nutrition. But keeping brine shrimp alive can be tricky. Their small size and delicate nature means they can die off quickly if not cared for properly.
How do you keep shrimp alive?
But if you need to keep them alive a little longer, here are some tips: Place brine shrimp in clean, saltwater in a shallow container. The large surface area allows for gas exchange which they need. Use an airstone connected to a pump to oxygenate the water. Low oxygen is deadly to brine shrimp. Keep container in the refrigerator.
Can a brine shrimp become live after frozen?
No, there is no way to become live after frozen. Can brine shrimp be pets? Although they are not looking fancy, you can still raise them as pets. Brine shrimp are very active little creatures that spend their time busily filtering food from the water and breeding.